Federer off to winning start

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Rotterdam - Roger Federer picked up where he left off seven years ago at the Rotterdam Open, as the 2005 champion won 13 of the last 14 points in a 6-4, 6-4 sweep of Nicolas Mahut on Wednesday.

The world No 3 and top seed then got an unexpected bonus as his scheduled second round opponent Mikhail Youzhny of Russia withdrew with a foot problem sending the Swiss straight into the quarter-finals on Friday and a date with Jarkko Nieminen.

After losing in the Australian Open semi-finals last month against Rafael Nadal, and a Davis Cup rubber at the weekend against American John Isner, Federer was thrilled with his 67-minute victory with one break per set of world No 83 Mahut.

"Any win is a good win. Frankly I'm glad to be in the quarter-finals," said the 16-time Grand Slam winner.

"It's always tough to make the change from clay but after losing my last two singles matches a win is great.

"I had to get used to the conditions quickly. It was a good start, I came through well, Nicolas is a tough player," he said after his third defeat of the Frenchman without a loss.

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